In today’s Times Frank Rich makes a telling point about race and the Republican Party- they’re all old white guys. They took the South from the Dems in the 70s by playing the race card. Now the hoary immigration fear-mongering is driving their right wing. This is very bad for John McCain, a man I do not disrespect but whom I could never support for President because we need to clean house this time around- a thorough flushing out of the vermin is required.

Here’s McCain’s big problem:

“The authors of the new book “Millennial Makeover,” Morley Winograd and Michael D. Hais, point out that the so-called millennial generation (dating from 1982) is the largest in American history, boomers included, and that roughly 40 percent of it is African-American, Latino, Asian or racially mixed. One in five millennials has an immigrant parent.”

From Rich’s column. The same millenials are unconcerned about the role of gays in society (there’s nothing weird about being gay to them), nor do they see an issue with women’s rights- they accept them. What they do care deeply about is the future, the environment and the war. Their friends and family are the ones dying in Iraq, they are going to grow up dealing with climate change and its horrific global effects.

So, they’re not a big voting block, right? They’re coming out in droves for Obama. But think about this- they are also talking to their parents who are my generation, a generation that lived without a war (post-Viet Nam, pre-Iraq I) and were the first generation to start to understand environment, energy and population issues. There is a lot of real political discussion going on around this country and that’s not could for the whites guys in suits.

This means something. I’ve been a big Clinton supporter but Frank Rich’s column in yesterday’s times and then this video have changed my mind. We need a winner who represents the future.

Earth2Tech posted a great roundup piece yesterday on where the candidates, on both sides, stand on climate change and energy issues. Ignore the Super Tuesday title- because there are still no clear winners this info is still very relevant.

The big loser: Romney who would (apparently since he basically has no policy in place and ‘won’t do anything to hurt business’) do nothing. Just like our current prez…

In a related note I saw a poll yesterday of 16 year olds (sorry no link-it was on the tube) that put environmental issues as their top concern. No wonder since they are going to live through this crazy century.